A century of Turkey talk 2000-2100.

[memphis]

Survived another round of storms last night. Lots of thunder....annoying when trying to sleep.

I have a question....does turkey hen egg production drop as they age? Like an older heritage bred chicken? Do they quit laying as an older bird?

I haven't seen any bug eye baby pics lately! Y'all are slacking!

Feisty...you out there? Hoping you haven't floated away with all your rain!

 

[JRNash]

It was bad here too. Hoping for poults soon

 

[R2elk]

Survived another round of storms last night. Lots of thunder....annoying when trying to sleep.

I have a question....does turkey hen egg production drop as they age? Like an older heritage bred chicken? Do they quit laying as an older bird?

I haven't seen any bug eye baby pics lately! Y'all are slacking!

Feisty...you out there? Hoping you haven't floated away with all your rain!

Yes, they do lay fewer eggs and start their laying cycle later every year as they age. My 8 year old hen laid her first egg the last day of March this year and has only laid 2 eggs so far. The 9 year old hen has not started laying yet. One of the 3 year old hens has been laying daily while the other one is only a couple of eggs behind her. It is to be expected since she lays a jumbo based on turkey egg sizes.

This is why Porter's only keeps his hens for 4 - 5 years and his toms for 3 - 4 years.

 

[Bantambird]

 

[memphis]

Awww....look at that bug eyed baby!! Thanks Bantambird, I needed a fix!!

 

[memphis]

Thanks R2elk! Figured they slowed down. Wanted to understand the process.

 

[Finnie]

Hi guys. I've been avoiding posting until the last shred of hope for Ralphie's Eggs was gone. Today I eggtopsyed the last one. I eggtopsyed all the others on Friday, but this one had filled up more of its shell than they did, so I left it in the hatcher. Even though I knew darn well it wouldn't hatch.

I think that the postal service must really have done a number on them. Even though all but two were alive and developing, they didn't have what it took to withstand the spike in temps on day 15. I think they all perished before lockdown.

Oddly enough, the other eggs I had in that same incubator were 4 days younger than they were, and those survived the spike just fine. 6/10 of those hatched today, and I candled and saw movement in 2 of the 4 remaining, so I am hopeful for an 80% or better hatch rate on them. (GO Turkeys, GO!)

It was so sad looking down through the air cells at all of Ralphie's little chicks that didn't make it. (I didn't break the membranes.) They were so close, they almost made it. I'm sorry, Ralphie.

 

[Finnie]

@memphisI should be able to get you some bug eye baby pics. They are on my PC though.

 

[Finnie]

Memphis this TN weather is crazy.  I woke up today to 34 degrees, it was cold all day then all of a sudden the clouds cleared and temp went from 60 to 100 in just a matter of an hour.  I lost one of my roos today to heat stroke.  Is this really normal?  Please tell me no.  

That's sad about your rooster. I think a temp swing that much would be hard on any bird. I hope the rest of yours are ok. I lost a SS cockerel last summer on one of our hottest days. He wasn't there at lockup time and I looked around and found his body. I don't know for sure it was the heat, but it seemed the most likely, since he was fine before that.

 

[memphis]

Finnie....bummer.

I worry so much in the summer due to our heat & humidity. Lots of water, shade & box fans are my only defence.